Way Before Barbie, This Gritty Indie with 91% RT Turned Ryan Gosling Into an A-List Star

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Before becoming a major star in films like Barbie, Drive, The Notebook, and Blade Runner 2049, Ryan Gosling appeared in a critically acclaimed independent movie. This early film, with a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, played a significant role in launching his career and establishing him as a leading man in Hollywood.

Released in 2006, Half Nelson—directed and co-written by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden—stars Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne, a middle school teacher struggling with drug addiction.

Professor Dunne forms a bond with his student, Drey (Shareeka Epps), which leads to trouble with her brother, Frank (Anthony Mackie).

Audiences Already Knew Ryan Gosling When Half-Nelson Arrived in Theaters

Prior to Movies, Gosling Worked In Television

Though Ryan Gosling gained widespread recognition in 2004 with The Notebook alongside Rachel McAdams, his acting career actually began much earlier. He first appeared on screen in the early 1990s as a cast member of The New Mickey Mouse Club, and then received critical praise for his performance in Half Nelson, which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

Following several TV appearances, including the popular Nickelodeon show Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Ryan Gosling first appeared in a movie in 2000 with Remember the Titans. The next year, he played a challenging role as a white supremacist in The Believer, hinting at the powerful performances he’d later deliver, like in Half-Nelson.

Half Nelson Is a Showcase for Ryan Gosling’s Acting Chops

Half Nelson Helped Establish Ryan Gosling as a Serious Actor

Following its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, Half Nelson was released in theaters that autumn. Starting in just a few cinemas, the film gradually became more widely available and ultimately earned several times its production cost. The three lead actors – Ryan Gosling, Mekhi Phifer, and Anthony Mackie – all received critical acclaim for their performances. Both Phifer and Gosling were nominated for awards recognizing their work in the film.

As a film fan, I always felt like Half Nelson was a real turning point for everyone involved, but especially for Ryan Gosling. He’d already become known for The Notebook, which, sure, was a huge crowd-pleaser, but critics weren’t exactly blown away. There was a real danger he’d get stuck playing those kinds of romantic roles after that film, you know?

You know, looking back, Half Nelson was really the film that launched Ryan Gosling into superstardom. His performance as Dan Dunne was incredible – he snagged both an Independent Spirit Award (which he won!) and an Academy Award nomination. And the movie itself just swept up all sorts of ‘best of the year’ accolades. It was a huge moment for him, and a really fantastic film.

Ryan Gosling’s Career Took Off After Half Nelson

Gosling Has Starred in Many Movies Across Many Genres

Following his role in Half Nelson, Ryan Gosling appeared in films spanning many different genres. In 2007, he starred in the critically acclaimed indie film Lars and the Real Girl. He achieved even wider recognition with the 2011 release of Drive, a visually striking film directed by Nicolas Winding Refn that further solidified his popularity with moviegoers.

The 2010s really saw Ryan Gosling hit his stride. After a string of successes, he jumped between genres, proving he could do it all. We saw him back in romantic comedies with Crazy, Stupid, Love, then tackling political intrigue in The Ides of March. He wasn’t afraid to take risks, landing roles in films like The Big Short and the hilarious The Nice Guys. And then came La La Land in 2017, which brought him right back into awards season conversations.

Big Things, Including Star Wars, Await Ryan Gosling

Half Nelson Is the Rock Upon Which Ryan Gosling’s Career Is Built

Ryan Gosling remains a prominent actor, known for his intelligent and nuanced performances. He recently challenged traditional ideas of masculinity with his popular role as Ken in the 2023 film Barbie, becoming a well-known and beloved figure. He’s set to expand his range even further by joining the Star Wars franchise in the 2027 film Starfighter.

Ryan Gosling’s success in films like Barbie wouldn’t have happened without Half Nelson. While he wasn’t a complete unknown before, he hadn’t yet established himself as a leading actor. His powerful and realistic performance in Half Nelson resonated with both audiences and critics, launching him into A-list stardom.

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2026-02-01 22:19